BUSINESS leaders in York and North Yorkshire will learn tomorrow that the free skills assessment scheme in which they have taken part is a huge success, with 113 companies already signposted to tailored training.

Of these, 88 have already taken advantage of the £260,000 European-funded scheme for the region, called Learning Pays, designed to help small and medium sized enterprises to identify and act on their training needs.

Now York College, the lead partner in the venture, has called tomorrow's meeting at Askham Bryan College, near Copmanthorpe, as a way of reporting progress 18 months into the two-year project.

Skillsline project manager Richard Twigg, based at York College, said: "More to the point 242 people have benefited from some form of training as a result of the skills needs analyses carried out by Skillsline business translators - and people is what ultimately this is all about."

Mr Twigg has co-ordinated eight colleges taking part in the scheme, all of which have offered specialist training help. While the drawing up of the skills "map" is free there is a charge on the actual training.

"But from now until mid-March, we can offer companies access to a free Equal Opportunities assessment and help with a qualified specialist through funding obtained from the York and North Yorkshire Learning and Skills Council," said Mr Twigg

Converging on Askham Bryan tomorrow will be beneficiaries of the project together with business translators and delegates representing education in North Yorkshire.

Any businesses interested in taking part in the project should contact Mr Twigg on 01904 770310. Or beam into the project's website at www.skillsline.org

Updated: 12:43 Tuesday, January 22, 2002